We imagine Paul Branstad likes two things: the classic Series I Jaguar E-Type, and the great American road trip. The problem with his two loves is that the Series I Jaguar E-Type is rather small, and crossing America by car takes a long time. So he did what any sensible enthusiast with some cash would do --- commissioned a stretched Jaguar E-Type with its very own matching trailer.

With his road trip in mind, Branstad took a wrecked 1968 Jaguar E-Type to Classic Motor Cars Limited in the U.K. and asked them to stretch his I-6-powered Series I E-Type so that it had the interior space of a Series III E-Type, which was about nine inches longer due to the V-12 under the hood. Classic Motor Cars honored his request, adding four and a half inches to the floor pan, giving the custom E-Type the legroom of a Series III but with the timeless look of the first-generation E-Type that was sold as the Jaguar XKE in the U.S.Classic Motor Cars didn't stop there. To keep the E-Type's classic proportions, they raised the roadster's roofline an extra inch and a quarter, and reshaped the trunk so that it could accommodate a 20-gallon fuel tank and a wider spare tire. The CMC team then fit the Jag with a five-speed manual transmission, modern suspension, brakes and tires, and gave it power steering and air conditioning.

With the stretched Jaguar E-Type's trunk now partially filled with a larger fuel tank, Branstad needed room for the luggage he's taking on his cross-country journey. To help him out, CMC built a custom trailer using the rear end of two Jaguar E-Types. To not mar the lines of the classically beautiful E-Type, the trailer hitches up to a removable trailer hitch.The stretched Jaguar E-Type will go on display later this week in London at an automotive awards ceremony – after that we imagine Branstad will be itching to hit the road.

The Jaguar E-Type has always been my favorite. It is the most beautiful car ever made. The closest thing would be a 1960 Corvette or maybe the 1929 Duesenberg Model J. Where have all the great designers gone?